Faith, staking life on the meeting
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आह्मांपाशीं याचें बळ । कोण काळवरी तों ॥1॥
करूनि ठेलों जीवेंसाटीं । होय भेटी तोंवरि ॥ध्रु.॥
लागलों तों न फिरें पाठी । पडिल्या गांठी वांचूनि ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे अवकाशें । तुमच्या ऐसें होवया ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
This strength is with us. Who can hold off Time until then? I have staked my very life on this and will keep at it until the meeting happens. Once I have set out, I will not turn back without the knot being tied. Says Tuka, grant me this spaciousness of Yours so that I may become as You are.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
This strength is with us. Who can hold off Time until then? I have staked my very life on this, and I will keep at it until the meeting comes. Once I have set out, I will not turn back without the knot being tied. Tuka says: grant me this spaciousness of yours, so that I may become as you are.
What it means
Tukaram declares the strength he leans on is already his, and asks who could keep Time at bay until the moment he longs for arrives. He has wagered his whole life on reaching God and will not stop until that meeting happens. He swears not to turn back until the bond is sealed, the knot tied that joins him to the Lord. The prayer rises to its boldest reach in the last line: give me your own spaciousness, so that I may become as you are.
Faith and Trust
The boldness of faith, steadfastness, and the security of trusting in God.
More in this theme →